WNVECPPK

Verbena

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Meteor Shower' and 'WNVECPPUR' (Cake Pops Purple)

Summary: The plants of 'WNVECPPK' have a semi-upright growth habit while those of 'Meteor Shower' have an upright growth habit. The plants of 'WNVECPPK' are shorter and wider than those of 'Meteor Shower' and wider than those of 'WNVECPPUR'. The leaf blade of 'WNVECPPK' is wider than that of 'Meteor Shower'. The inflorescence of 'WNVECPPK' is larger in diameter than that of 'Meteor Shower'. The corolla of 'WNVECPPK' is larger in diameter than that of 'Meteor Shower'. When newly opened, the inner side of the corolla lobe of 'WNVECPPK' is medium blue pink with light violet along the centre while that of 'Meteor Shower' and 'WNVECPPUR' is medium blue violet. When fully opened, the inner side of the corolla lobe of 'WNVECPPK' is light blue pink with light violet along the centre while that of 'Meteor Shower' is medium blue violet with darker blue violet along the centre and that of 'WNVECPPUR' is medium blue violet. When aged, the inner side of the corolla lobe of 'WNVECPPK' is light blue pink with light violet along the centre while that of 'Meteor Shower' is light blue violet with medium blue violet along the centre and that of 'WNVECPPUR' is medium blue violet. The corolla tube of 'WNVECPPK' is longer than that of 'Meteor Shower'. The corolla eye is present for 'WNVECPPK' while it is absent for 'Meteor Shower'.

Description:

PLANT: semi-upright growth habit
STEM: absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration on middle third

LEAF BLADE: narrow elliptic to narrow oblong shape, no divisions, serrate margin incisions, dark green upper side, no anthocyanin colouration of upper side, petiole absent

INFLORESCENCE: broad ovate in profile
CALYX: anthocyanin colouration on upper part
COROLLA: free arrangement of lobes, one colour, strongly fading colour with age
COROLLA LOBE: incurved along longitudinal axis, weak undulation of margin
COROLLA LOBE (INNER SIDE): one colour present, medium blue pink (RHS 73C) with light violet (RHS 77C) along centre when newly opened, light blue pink (RHS 65B-C) with light violet (RHS N81D) along centre when fully opened, light blue pink (RHS 69D) with light violet (RHS 76B) along centre when aged
COROLLA TUBE: tip of protruding hairs is white
COROLLA EYE: small diameter, pink

Origin & Breeding History: 'WNVECPPK' originated from a controlled cross conducted by Rika Matsumoto on May 23, 2016, in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The cross was made between the proprietary female parent designated '09V985-01' and the male parent Verbena rigida f. lilacina variety 'Polaris'. On May 26, 2017, a single plant was selected from the resulting progeny in Bonsall, California based on plant growth habit, flower colour, flower longevity and summer heat performance. Asexual reproduction of the variety 'WNVECPPK' was first conducted by cuttings on May 29, 2017 in Bonsall, California, USA.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for 'WNVECPPK' was conducted in a polyhouse during the spring of 2022, at Bioflora Inc., in St. Thomas, Ontario. The trial included a total of 20 plants each of the candidate and reference varieties. All plants were grown from rooted cuttings transplanted into 15 cm diameter pots on April 6, 2022. Observations and measurements were taken from 10 plants, or parts of plants, on June 6, 2022. All colour determinations were made using the 2015 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'WNVECPPK' with reference varieties 'Meteor Shower' and 'WNVECPPUR'

Plant height (cm)

Plant width (cm)

Leaf blade width (mm)

Inflorescence diameter (cm)

Corolla diameter (mm)

Corolla tube length (cm)

Colour of inner of corolla lobe (RHS)

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Verbena: 'WNVECPPK' (left) with reference varieties 'Meteor Shower' (centre) and 'WNVECPPUR' (right)

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Verbena: 'WNVECPPK' (left) with reference varieties 'Meteor Shower' (centre) and 'WNVECPPUR' (right)